Delay mars restore of Navotas navigational gate regardless of Marcos’ name to hurry up challenge

The contract for the challenge was awarded to a three way partnership, one-half of which is St. Timothy Development, the Discaya-led agency named by the President in a uncommon press briefing

In Navotas and Malabon, residents are tearing their hair out as delays have plagued the restore of a navigational gate that’s essential in mitigating floodwaters throughout excessive tide.

Malacañang got here out with a press launch in July, assuring the general public that the challenge was being fast-tracked after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the Malabon-Navotas (Tangos-Tanza) navigational gate within the aftermath of the flooding attributable to the Storm Emong. It was Marcos’ second go to to the positioning in precisely a yr, as the identical drawback exacerbated flooding within the space when Storm Carina triggered heavy rains in Metro Manila in July 2024.

The contract for the challenge went to 2 companies, one in all which is already within the President’s watch listing, including stress to finish repairs.

So what’s with the maintain up?

The Navotas navigational gate has been damaged quite a few instances already.

In June 2024, a barge that was attempting to beat a deadline deliberately rammed into the floodgate in an try and get by means of it, regardless of repeated warnings by onlookers that the vessel wouldn’t get by means of. The recklessness broken the essential construction, leaving communities and not using a useful navigational gate when excessive tide coincided with heavy rains as a result of Storm Carina the next month. The cities recorded their worst flooding in a long time.

Marcos subsequently visited the construction and ordered repairs final yr, which had been supposedly completed in November 2024. The Division of Public Works and Highways stated although that “one other element of the gate wanted to be repaired” by Could this yr “as a result of put on and tear.”

The Presidential Communication’s Workplace press launch after Marcos’ go to in July stated the restore of the floodgates was anticipated by August 8, however varied circumstances have left the infrastructure unfinished as of writing.

Navotas Consultant Toby Tiangco has been giving near-daily updates on the progress of the repairs, and directed DPWH-NCR Gerard Opulencia to ship him a every day report on this. In Opulencia’s experiences that Tiangco shared on his Fb web page, the DPWH official repeatedly assured him that the gate could be absolutely operational on August 12.

Excuses, excuses

Because the August 12 date drew nearer, the every day experiences of Opulencia to Tiangco dropped the assured operation date. Tiangco would publish these experiences by early night on the newest, however on the eve of the occasion that Malabon and Navotas residents have been praying for, the congressman shared the DPWH report previous 10 pm.

Tiangco went on FB reside late Monday, August 11, to announce that the challenge wouldn’t be accomplished by August 12.

“Iyong pangako po ng DPWH at kanilang contractor na dapat bukas tapos na nila ang navigational gate, ngayon hindi naman daw matatapos. So medyo talagang dismayado ako,” Tiangco advised his constituents. “Pasensya na po, nagpipigil na lang talaga ako sa inis ko dito sa mga ito.”

(The DPWH and their contractor promised that they’d end the navigational gate tomorrow, however now they’re saying it could possibly’t be achieved. So I’m actually moderately dismayed. Sorry, I’m actually attempting to manage my anger towards these individuals.)

Tiangco additionally famous that the contractor has apparently run out of excuses. Up to now, the contractor cited unhealthy climate, excessive tide, and trash, to justify the delayed restore. This time, they even blamed the low tide, which isn’t an surprising phenomenon. In truth, the time of the rise and fall of tides are publicly identified.

DPWH-NCR wrote to Tiangco on Tuesday, explaining the reason for the delay: “Please be suggested that the underwater set up of bolts for the pad eye and leaf gate connection is scheduled for August 12, 2025, as underwater visibility considerably decreases throughout low tide.”

Different remaining elements of the challenge, such because the set up and tightening of bolts, are anticipated to be completed by Friday, August 15.

“You stated earlier than that you simply’d solely be delayed if there was a storm or if it rained. There was no storm, it didn’t rain, so why is there nonetheless a delay?” Tiangco additionally advised the on-ground workers of the contractors on Tuesday, August 12. “Why didn’t you say so? If you understand your job, it is best to have advised us that in our assembly, proper?”

DPWH-NCR awarded the contract to the three way partnership of St. Timothy Development and Anore Development.

St. Timothy is within the highlight after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named it as among the many high flood contractors within the final three years. Marcos stated that based mostly on his “disturbing evaluation,” the agency and 14 others, out of greater than 2,000 contractors, cornered P100 billion in flood management tasks.

St. Timothy is co-founded by defeated 2025 Pasig mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, and led by her husband Curlee Discaya based mostly on information from the Securities and Trade Fee.

“St. Timothy by no means appeared there. Anore was the one submitting the experiences, not St. Timothy,” Tiangco advised Rappler on Tuesday.

Will the contractors lastly meet the revised deadline? Residents grappling with flooding each time the tide rises — and worse, when mixed with unhealthy climate — are on the finish of their rope. – Rappler.com